Page 14 of Open Water
"Alright. No rush then?"
"Let's not worry about it for now," he said. The rest of the tension left my chest.
He leaned against me. His head on my shoulder. I could feel his breathing through our jackets.
"Thank you for meeting me this morning," he said.
"Thank you for the bagel… but I'd rather the salmon."
Alex laughed and it all felt perfect for that moment. The thought of coming out to anyone else gave me anxiety. But that morning was good, it felt kind of normal. Having breakfast together before practice. Somewhere special, just for the two of us. That was nice.
***
Practice was at seven-thirty. Riverside boathouse. Both teams.
I went straight from the bench and Alex waited a bit before he left. We staggered it. I'd show up at seven-fifteen with the Riverside guys. He'd come in at seven-twenty with the Kingswell crew through the bay door. Different entrances, different timing.
I hated the math of it. But I wasn't ready to stop doing it.
The erg room was full. Riverside guys on the left, Kingswell on the right, the old habit, but the line between them was blurring. Tyler had Collins's phone, swiping through something. Remy sat on an erg next to a Kingswell coxswain, comparing data on a tablet.
I thought back to just a few months ago to the brawl at the party. What a world to be living in. It seemed as though our rivalry was solved.
Alex came in at seven-twenty with the rest of the Kingswell crew. Didn't look at me.
Hale and Eldridge stood at the front. Together. Hale in the Riverside windbreaker, coffee mug, the posture of a guy who'd been doing this for decades. Eldridge in a Kingswell quarter-zip with his arms crossed.
"Listen up," Hale said. All thirty of us shut up.
"Fourth place at the Head of the Charles. Collegiate doubles. First time either program has cracked the top five." He glanced at Eldridge. "First time either of us has worked with someone from the other side of the river."
Eldridge's mouth twitched.
"Next — Jace is finishing his degree this semester. December graduation. He's been invited to the U23 national development camp in January."
The room erupted. Guys clapping, a few whoops, someone banging an erg handle against the rail. Jace sat in the back row with his arms crossed, shaking his head.
"Relax," he said. "It's not the Olympics."
"Yet!" Tyler shouted.
More noise. Jace pointed at Tyler. "Sit down."
"I'm already sitting."
"Then sit down harder."
The room laughed then settled when Hale stopped.
"Here's what's next," Hale said. "We're extending joint training through winter. Three mornings together, two program-specific. Ergs, tank, water when the river allows. Eldridge and I are building a quad development initiative — expanding what Harrington and Moore did in the double."
A quad. My pulse ticked up.
"Moore. You're coordinating Riverside's winter scheduling. Rosters, rotations, equipment. Jace is handing off his records before he leaves."
I nodded. Jace nodded from the back.
Braden raised his hand. "The quad. Who's being considered?"
